Sunday, July 29, 2012

An example of some of the blocks I'm piecing. It's a scrappy quilt~ I'm using all bits and pieces from my small stash that consists of two totes jammed full.

See? Most of the points are pretty darn close. I would love it if every one was perfect.

But really, who cares?

This one I missed quite obviously.

But you know what? I'm not gonna rip it out, I'm gonna use it in the quilt!

I've always said I'm an 'immediate gratification girl'. I like to get to the finish when I'm doing projects.

I care that it's done well, I just don't get all obsessed if there is a little "human-ness" showing!

In the past, I've been accused of being a perfectionist...

The topic came up again recently, so I did a little research.

Here's what I found...

All-Or-Nothing Thinking:

Perfectionists, like high
achievers, tend to set high goals and work hard toward them. However, a
high achiever can be satisfied with doing a great job and achieving
excellence (or something close), even if their very high goals aren’t
completely met.

Critical Eye:

Perfectionists are far more critical of
themselves and of others than are high achievers. While high achievers
take pride in their accomplishments and tend to be supportive of others,
perfectionists tend to spot tiny mistakes and imperfections in their
work and in themselves, as well as in others and their work.

Unrealistic Standards:

Unfortunately, a perfectionist’s
goals aren’t always even reasonable. While high achievers can set their
goals high, perhaps enjoying the fun of going a little further once
goals are reached, perfectionists often set their initial goals out of
reach.

Focus on Results:

High achievers can enjoy the process
of chasing a goal as much or more than the actual reaching of the goal
itself. Conversely, perfectionists see the goal and nothing else.
They’re so concerned about meeting the goal and avoiding the dreaded
failure that they can’t enjoy the process of growing and striving.

Fear of Failure:

Perfectionists are also much more afraid
to fail than are high achievers. Because they place so much stock in
results and become so disappointed by anything less than perfection,
failure becomes a very scary prospect.

Defensiveness:

Because a less-than-perfect performance
is so painful and scary to perfectionists, they tend to take
constructive criticism defensively, while high achievers can see
criticism as valuable information to help their future performance.

Low Self Esteem:

High achievers tend to have equally high
esteem; not so with perfectionists. They tend to be very self-critical
and unhappy, and suffer from low self-esteem. They can also be lonely
or isolated, as their critical nature and rigidity can push others away
as well. This can lead to lower self-esteem.

So here's the proof that I'm not a perfectionist! I'm merely a high achiever! :P LOL

Sunday, July 22, 2012

I am behind on housework. Bills. Outside chores. Weaving. Pretty much everything that I should be doing.

That start button issue? Still a problem.

But today, I am starting something. I am cutting and sewing the start of a scrap quilt.

I don't need another quilt. I don't have a deadline of a gift, or an event.

I have had a pattern picked out for awhile that will work with using up some scraps. Because ya know, I can't throw anything away....or buy anything new without an act of congress.

I'm getting to know my new machine. Straight stitch only. Don't think I can even back stitch? I should probably get out the book and read through it just once :)

I'm going to have to figure out something for the foot control. It's a little high for my comfort. Need to make a heel rest or something. Also include a way to keep it in place. It has a tendency to get pushed under the crossbar underneath and then it goes to town by itself. I have to fish it out from underneath so it quits sewing!

Typical me, lately. Second block and I've already made a mistake. See it?

It is out of character for me to make these simple mistakes. I did it at work the other day, too. Put a part on the wrong side of where it goes. Stupid, dumb mistakes.

Sometimes I think I'm losing it. I have been so unfocused lately! I'm edgy and restless.

Are those symptoms of a midlife crisis or something???

Or maybe it's this~

From this advice, I'm not prepared mentally for sewing (or anything else I presume).

I've got the dirty dishes and unmade bed...

Ditto the housekeeping chores.

Make myself attractive? HA! for whom?

Really, I would never do anything enjoyable if I was to "get everything put together" first...

Maybe I'm in disbelief. Today I happened onto the horse registration papers and realized my youngest horse is 7. She's tame, but never even had a halter on her. So embarrassing - especially for a supposed horse trainer like me... Her older sis is 9. She's halter broke, but never ridden. You have no idea how hard it is to write that here. I feel like a failure!

Can't seem to get into weaving. Or crafting. Or anything.

My house is a disaster.

I don't know where to start.

I need a change. Just not sure what it is that I could realistically change...

Hoping tomorrow morning brings with it a better mood. I don't like feeling like this.
JULIE

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

If I get my dishes washed and have clean clothes to wear, I think I'm doin' ok! :)

I've got so much stuff that should be done, that I want to do... I can't seem to get started!

So here is one of my small goals that has been completed~

This is a small antique mirror that at one time belonged on a dresser.

I refinished it and wired it for hanging.

It should make a nice accent mirror for someone!

Now to pick the next small project.

Tonite I caught up on paying bills and I'm gonna head to bed. I've been fighting a headache for a couple of days and it's morphed itself into a migraine. I've taken my ridiculously expensive migraine medication and will hope it does it's magic and I will feel like a new woman by tomorrow morning work time. LOL

Not much weaving happening lately~ OY

All for now, JULIE

PS ~ Got a wild hair the other day - literally - and had the hair dresser cut off almost all of my hair. It was time...

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Back in January I came across a machine at the junque shop and brought it home.

Finally have it up and ready to run...

It's kind of small and unassuming when it's all closed up. I'm thinking someone did a refinishing job on this. It's quite nice and the stool has a nice quality vinyl on it.

Here it is opened up. It actually has quite a generous work space~ more than I'm used to :)

And a close up of the old girl. I had the motor and light replaced - the electric cords were scary! The serial number tells me this was made in 1948. It's in nice condition. Haven't sewn on it yet, need to find a project first, LOL.

Inside the drawers I also got the original instruction book, Two student handbooks, one about the machine and the other about the attachments. That should be handy as there is a box of attachments, also! I didn't take the time to see which ones I have, but another day! Plus a few bonus literature items.

I really don't know what took me so long to get this back into the cabinet. There was a grand total of 9 screws that I had to put in...